Category: The Seattle Times

Our annual salt dough ornament making day. It’s the holiday activity they look forward to most each year. Ingredients: 4 cups of flour 1 cup of salt 2 cups of hot water (keep adding until it gets to dough consistency) food coloring Stick the baking sheet in the oven at 325 degrees for 45 minutes…

The people at Swanson’s always do such a nice job with their model train display! This year’s theme is treehouses. Swiss Family Robinson is represented, as are Jack and Annie, Shrek, Star Trek, LOTR… and the Mojo Dojo Casa Treehouse. Runs through Dec. 31.

WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo: by day and at night. Which one do you prefer? When: through Jan. 14, 4 to 9 p.m. Cost: $29.95–$36.95 for everyone 13 and up; $25.95–$31.95 for kids 3-12.

Scenes from a walk through downtown Seattle…

Will Enchant Christmas ever come back to Seattle? There’s a FREE version in Westlake Park through Jan. 9. Beautiful light installation with giant snowflakes, candy canes and a 13-foot reindeer. Where: Westlake Park, downtown Seattle Cost: Free! When: Daily through Jan. 9, rain or shine

Holiday outing must: the annual Teddy Bear Suite at the super swanky Fairmont Olympic Hotel. After getting our cuddles in, we stopped in the café downstairs for a free cookie. Where: Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 411 University St. Cost: Free to visit, donations accepted for Seattle Children’s Hospital When: Through Jan. 3, 2024 Times: Tuesday-Saturday 10…

Last weekend, the Downtown Seattle Association sponsored FREE ice skating in Occidental Square. The “ice” was actually sheets of plastic, and it was slick! I’m pretty sure I spent more time lacing up our skates than actually skating, but hey, the price was right.

This year’s gingerbread house village at the Sheraton is themed Charlie and The Chocolate Factory! We’re going to make our gingerbread houses this weekend, and I’m sure ours are going to turn out looking *just* like these. Where: Sheraton Grand Seattle, 1400 6th Ave. When: Through Jan. 1, 2024 Cost: Free to visit, donations accepted…

After decades of the prevailing white aesthetic, the pendulum’s swinging the other way. Color is back, in paint, tile, even the fixtures. I wrote the cover story for this week’s At Home section in The Seattle Times.

Opening weekend for the Calder show at the Seattle Art Museum. Such a joy to walk through this exhibit. I am a massive, MASSIVE fan and here are a million pictures. * Show runs Nov. 8, 2023 to August 4, 2024. Kids 14 and under are free, adults are $30 advance or $33 day-of tickets.…